CHAPTER 22.

1837-1840.

WHEN Apostles Kimball and Hyde left England in 1838, they left the church in charge of Elder Willard Richards; who, though meeting local opposition both within and without the church, remained faithfully at his post of duty, and presided with acceptability to the church during the dark days of American persecution, when assistance could not be sent him.

In January, 1839, Elder Isaac Russell, who had formerly been a missionary to England, wrote to Alston, England, and caused much trouble. He claimed that Joseph the prophet had fallen and that the Lord had chosen him. President Richards, however, succeeded in meeting this influence and destroying its effect.

In England as well as in America the most ridiculous stories were told regarding the saints. On September 2, 1838, a lady by the name of Alice Hodgin died at Preston. Elder Richards was arraigned before the mayor's court on the charge of having killed her with a "black stick." He was discharged, however, before going to trial.

Some of the peculiar trials of Elder Richards are briefly told by Joseph Smith as follows:-

"While the persecutions were progressing against us in Missouri, the enemy of all righteousness was no less busy with the saints in England, according to the length of time the gospel had been preached in that kingdom. Temptation followed temptation, and being young in the cause, the saints suffered themselves to be buffeted by their adversary. From the time that Elder Willard Richards

(page 482)

was called to the apostleship, in July, 1838, the Devil seemed to take a great dislike to him, and strove to stir up the minds of many against him. Elder Richards was afflicted with sickness and several times was brought to the borders of the grave, and many were tempted to believe that he was under transgression or he would not be thus afflicted. Some were tried and tempted because Elder Richards took to himself a wife; they thought he should have given himself wholly to the ministry and followed Paul's advice to the letter. Some were tried because his wife wore a veil, and others because she carried a muff to keep herself warm when she walked out in cold weather; and even the president of the church there thought 'she had better done without it;' she had nothing ever purchased by the church, and to gratify their feelings wore the poorest clothes she had, and they were too good, so hard was it to buffet the storm of feeling that arose from such foolish causes. Sister Richards was very sick for some time, and some were dissatisfied because he did not neglect her entirely and go out preaching; and others, that she did not go to meeting when she was not able to go so far.

"From such little things arose a spirit of jealousy, tattling, evil speaking, surmising, covetousness, and rebellion, until the church but too generally harbored more or less of those unpleasant feelings; and this evening Elder Halsal came out openly in council against Elder Richards and preferred some heavy charges, none of which he was able to substantiate. Most of the elders in Preston were against Elder Richards for a season, except James Whitehead, who proved himself true in the hour of trial.

"Sunday, 10th. When Elder Richards made proclamation from the pulpit that if anyone had aught [ought] against him or his wife Jennetta, he wished they would come to him and state their grievances, and if he had erred in anything he would acknowledge his fault, one only of the brethren came to him, and that to acknowledge his own fault to Elder Richards in harboring unpleasant feelings without a cause. Elder Richards' wife 1 bore all these trials and persecutions with

1

This should probably read Elder Richards and his wife.

(page 483)

patience; for he knew the cause, his calling having been made known to him by revelation; but he told no one of it. The work continued to spread in Manchester and vicinity, among the Staffordshire Potteries, and other places in England."-Millennial Star, vol. 16, p. 789.

As already stated the Twelve resolved, in 1839, to go to England, accompanied by several of the seventy and some of the high priests. Their resolution was approved by the First Presidency and the church. They left Nauvoo at different times, as has been noted in these pages. They traveled through the Eastern States, preaching and building up churches, though sickness and adverse circumstances were against them.

The following brief history of the English mission is from the pen of Willard Richards, who had been connected with the mission from its beginning:-

"About the first of June, 1837, Elder Heber C. Kimball was called by the Spirit of revelation and set apart by the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, then at Kirtland, Ohio, North America, to preside over a mission to England, accompanied by Elder Orson Hyde, who was set apart for the same work at the same time. In a few days, Brother Joseph Fielding, priest, was set apart; and on the eve of the 12th, Elder Willard Richards (having been absent several months on a long journey, and having returned the day previous) was called and set apart for the same mission.

"The following morning, Tuesday, 13th, these brethren gave the parting hand, bade farewell to home, and without purse or scrip started for England. They were accompanied twelve miles to Fairport, on Lake Erie, by Elders Brigham Young, John P. Green, and Brother Levi Richards, and Sisters Kimball, Green, and Fielding (Brother R. B. Thompson and wife accompanied the mission to Buffalo, and Brother Fitch Brigham to Utica), and others, with whom they parted in the afternoon, and went on board a steamer for Buffalo, where they arrived next day.

"At this place the brethren expected to receive some means from Canada to assist them on their journey, but they

(page 484)

were disappointed. In the evening they took passage on a canal boat, and arrived in Albany on the l9th, Elder Hyde having gone forward to New York from Rochester. Brother Fielding proceeded to New York, and on the 20th Elder Kimball accompanied Elder Richards to his father's house in Richmond, Massachusetts, thirty miles east, where they spent one day, and having received some assistance from his friends, bade them farewell for the last time, his father and mother having since died, also a sister whom he had left in Kirtland, and on the 21st returned to Albany, and arrived in New York on the 22d, where they found Brothers O. Hyde and Fielding; also Elders John Goodson, Isaac Russell, and John Snyder, priest (who had come from Canada to join the mission), anxiously waiting their arrival so that they might take passage on board the United States, which was to sail next day, but they arrived too late.

"In New York Elder Richards received some further means, quite providentially, and on the 23d the brethren engaged passage to Liverpool, on board the Garrick, which was to sail on the 1st of July.

"In the meantime the brethren received every possible assistance from Elder Elijah Fordham, for at that time he was the only member of the church residing in the city, and having no house of his own, he procured his father's storehouse for the use of the brethren, where they lodged on the floor, amid straw and blankets, one week, eating their cold morsel, and conversing with the people as they had opportunity; for no place could be procured to preach in, and there was no one to receive them into their houses.

"Sunday, the 25th, the brethren held a council at their lodgings (Mr. Fordham's store), and organized ready for taking their departure.

"On the 29th, the brethren sealed, superscribed, and forwarded one hundred and eighty of Elder Orson Hyde's 'Timely Warnings' to the ministers of the different denominations in the city, and went on board the Garrick, which hauled out into the river and cast anchor.

"July 1st the ship weighed anchor, and was towed to the Hook by a steamer, where she spread sail, and in four hours

(page 485)

and a half was out of sight of land. With the exception of a strong wind on the 12th, there was generally a gentle breeze from the northwest during the voyage.

"On the 16th, Elder Hyde preached on the aft quarter deck, and on the 18th Cape Clear was visible (eighteen days out of sight of land); and on the morning of the 20th the brethren landed in Liverpool, twenty days from New York. Here Elders Kimball, Hyde, and Richards found themselves on a foreign shore, surrounded by strangers, without the first farthing in their possession; but the brethren unitedly took lodgings in a private house in Union Street, till after the inspection of the ship; and on Saturday, the 22d, took coach for Preston. When they had alighted from the coach and were standing by their trunks in front of the hotel in Preston, a large flag was unfurled over their heads, on which was printed in golden letters, 'Truth will prevail;' at the sight of which their hearts rejoiced, and they cried aloud, 'Amen, thanks be unto God, Truth will prevail.'

"Brother Joseph Fielding lodged with his brother, Rev. James Fielding, then a preacher in Vauxhall Road chapel, and the remainder of the brethren took lodgings in St. Wilford Street, Fox Street. The same evening the elders visited the Rev. Mr. Fielding, by his request, at his lodgings. He had previously been apprised of the coming forth of this work in America, through the medium of letters from his relatives and others, and had requested his church to pray that God would send them his servants, and exhorted his people to receive their message when they should come.

" Sunday, the 23d. As they had no place in which to preach, the seven brethren went to Vauxhall chapel to hear the Rev. Mr. Fielding; and, at the close of the morning service, Mr. Fielding gave public notice that an elder of the Latter Day Saints would preach in the afternoon in his pulpit. This was voluntary with Mr. Fielding, as no one had requested the privilege; and in the afternoon, according to the notice, Elder Kimball gave a brief history of the rise of the church, and the first principles of the gospel, and Elder Hyde bore testimony; after which the Rev. Mr. Fielding requested the brethren to give out an appointment for the

"At the close Mr. Fielding again gave leave for preaching at the same place on Wednesday evening, when Elder Hyde preached and Elder Richards bore testimony; and from that time the Rev. Mr. Fielding closed his doors against the elders, and began to oppose the work, and stated that the elders promised to say nothing about baptism in their preaching, before he consented to let them preach in his pulpit; whereas the subject of the elders preaching in his chapel had not been named between the parties, before Mr. F. gave out the public appointment before referred to: much less (if possible) that they would 'say nothing about baptism.'

"Nine of Mr. Fielding's members offered themselves for baptism; and Mr. Fielding presented himself before the elders and forbade their baptizing them; but he received for answer that 'they were of age and could act for themselves;' and on Sunday, the 30th, they were baptized under the hands of Elder Kimball; Brother George D. Watt being the first who offered himself for baptism in England, and is now an elder laboring in Edinburgh, Scotland.

"Elder Russell preached in the market place in the afternoon, and from that day the doors of private houses were opened on almost every hand for the elders.

"July 31st, a council of the elders decided that Elders Goodson and Richards should go on a mission to Bedford, and Elder Russell and Priest Snyder on a mission to Alston, Cumberland; and after a night of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving, the brethren took their departure on the morning of the first of August for their several stations.

"The Rev. Mr. Fielding continued to oppose the doctrine of baptism for a season; but finding that he was likely to lose all his 'best members,' he offered to baptize them himself; but they, being aware that he had no authority, declined his friendly offers; whereupon he engaged the Rev. Mr. Giles, a Baptist minister in Preston, of as little authority as himself, to do the baptizing for his flock; but this iniquitous scheme succeeded little better than the other-only one coming forward to his baptism, so far as we have heard,

(page 487)

Mr. Fielding's people also stated that he acted the part of a hypocrite and deceived them, when he read the letters to them in public, which he received from America, by keeping back that part which treated on baptism, which, since the foregoing failure, he has opposed.

"Elders Kimball and Hyde and Priest Fielding continued to preach daily in different parts of Preston, and on Wednesday and Thursday evenings (August 2) the meetings were attended by Miss Jennetta Richards, who was visiting her friends in Preston, and on Friday she requested baptism, which was attended to by Elder Kimball, after which she was confirmed at the water side by Elders Kimball and Hyde, it being the first confirmation in a foreign land in these last days.

"The day following Sister Richards returned home to her friends, and informed her father, the Rev. J. Richards, an Independent minister at Walker-fold, Chaidgely, whom she had found at Preston, and what she had done, and requested him to send for Elder Kimball to preach in his chapel. Mr. Richards complied with his daughter's request. Elder Kimball arrived at Walker-fold Saturday eve, August 12, and the day following preached three times in Mr. Richards' pulpit, to crowded assemblies; also twice during the week and twice the Sunday following, being most kindly and cordially entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Richards for nine days, during which time Elder Kimball baptized several in the neighborhood.

"After a short visit to Preston, where Elder Hyde continued to preach and baptize, Elder Kimball returned to Walker-fold and continued to receive the hospitality of Mr. Richards' house for some days, while the work spread in the neighborhood; and from thence the work went forth to Clitheroe, Waddington, Downham, Chatburn, Thornley, and Ribchester, through the labors of Brothers Kimball and Fielding.

"Elders Goodson and Richards arrived in Bedford on the 2d of August, and having letters of introduction to the Rev. Timothy R. M Matthews from Brother Joseph Fielding (Mrs. Matthews' brother), they immediately waited on Mr. Matthews,

(page 488)

who expressed great joy at their arrival, and manifested his sincerity by walking arm in arm with the elders through the streets of Bedford, calling on the members of his church, and inviting them to attend the lectures of the elders at his chapel vestry that evening. Mr. Matthews had previously been apprised of the saints in America through the medium of the Rev. James Fielding, of Preston, and the letters from America, before referred to. In the evening his church assembled in the vestry, and Elders Goodson and Richards continued to lecture and testify of the work of God, on that and the three following evenings in the same place, with the entire approbation of Mr. Matthews, who at the close of the lectures publicly bore testimony to the truths advanced, and called upon his people to know why they did not come forward for baptism; while they in return wished to know why he did not set them the example.

"After this Mr. Matthews engaged another house in the neighborhood for the elders to preach in, under the pretense that some of the proprietors of the chapel might not be pleased with the elders occupying the vestry, and Mr. Matthews continued to attend the preaching of the elders, and also spent a great share of his time from day to day in conversation with them.

"Mr. Matthews told the elders that he had received two ordinations; one from Bishop West, whom he had proved to be an impostor, and another from the Church of England, which he acknowledged to be descended from the Church of Rome; and he further acknowledged that he had no authority from God for administering in the ordinances of God's house.

"On the 10th, Mrs. Braddock and four others were baptized by Elder Goodson. Soon after this Mr. Joseph Saville, member of Mr. Matthews' church, being very desirous of receiving baptism at the same time with Mr. Matthews, waited on him at his house, in company with Elders Goodson and Richards, and Mr. Matthews and Mr. Saville mutually agreed to meet the elders on the bank of the river Ouse, at a specified hour in the afternoon, and attend to the

(page 489)

ordinance of baptism. At the hour appointed Mr. Saville met the elders at the place previously designated by Mr. Matthews; but as he did not make his appearance according to promise, after waiting for him an hour, Mr. Saville was baptized, when the elders repaired to Mr. Matthews' to learn the cause of his not fulfilling his engagement, and were informed by Mr. Matthews' family that he had gone out into the country to preach.

"In a day or two it was currently rumored that Mr. Matthews had baptized himself, and this rumor was afterwards confirmed by Mrs. Matthews, who stated to Elder Kimball at Preston, that Mr. Matthews had baptized himself, reasoning upon this principle within himself, 'If I have authority to administer the sacrament to my people, why not have authority to baptize myself?' etc.-and all this after Mr. Matthews had acknowledged to Elders Goodson and Richards that he had no authority to administer in the ordinances of God's house; and altogether regardless of the words of the apostle (Heb. 5: 4), 'No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.'

"By the foregoing it is plainly to be seen that Mr. Matthews has attempted to take that upon himself which was never conferred upon him by the Spirit of revelation, either by God, his angels, or his servants; viz., the holy priesthood; and from that period Mr. Matthews began to preach baptism, and baptized those who felt it their duty to be baptized, and then invited them to the penitent form to get remission of their sins; but finding that would not answer all the design which he intended, he afterwards began to baptize for the remission of sins.

"Mr. Matthews appears to have well understood that counterfeit coin is more current the nearer it approximates to the true, and governed himself accordingly; for he continued to preach faith, repentance, baptism for the remission of sins, the second coming of Christ, etc., etc., adding one thing to another, in imitation of truth, as fast as it answered his purpose, from those doctrines which he had heard from the Latter Day Saints; but it was some time before he arrived at that heaven-daring, conscience-seared hardihood

(page 490)

to lay hands on those whom he had baptized, for the reception of the Holy Ghost, and at the same time he acknowledged that he had not got the Holy Ghost himself, by praying that he might receive it (Query, How can a man communicate that which he is not in possession of?), and he now calls his church 'The Church of Latter Day Saints.'

"Thus has Mr. Matthews been running about from Bedford to Liverpool, from Liverpool to Northampton, from Northampton to Bedford, and other places, crying aloud in public and private that the Latter Day Saints and their doctrines came from hell; at the same time has been preaching the same doctrines, calls his church by the same name, is administering in the same ordinances, just as though he fully believed that the doctrines and sacraments of hell would be sanctified and made holy and heavenly when administered by the tongue and hands of an impostor.

"About the time that Mr. Matthews rejected the truth in Bedford his son (as Mr. Matthews called him), the Rev. Robert Aitkin, commenced his attack on the principles of righteousness in Preston; and while furiously pounding his pulpit with the Book of Mormon and warning his people to beware of the Latter Day Saints and their doctrines, saying that they and their record came from hell, called upon his people to use all their efforts to put down the work of God or stop the progress of the Latter Day Saints; and if it could not be put down without, prayed that God would smite the leaders; and from that time to the present his prayer has been answered on his own head.

"After Mr. Aitkin had preached against the corruptions of the Church of England for years, and established many flourishing chapels in Liverpool, Preston, Manchester, Burslem, London, etc.; after he had been visited by the elders of the Church of Latter Day Saints, and acknowledged to them at one time that baptism was right, but he could find no man who had authority to baptize; and at another time that he was afraid of them, and rejected their testimony; and last of all would not receive the elders into his house;-after all this, and deserted by a part of his flock, he has fled from the remainder because he was an hireling and

(page 491)

cared not for the sheep; yes, he has deserted his 'Christian Society'-ceased to be an Aitkinite, and dissolved his copartnership with Father Matthews, as may well be supposed, returned, and taken 'holy order' in 'Mother Church,' against the corruptions of which he testified so diligently from year to year, and is now about to enter on his parochial duties in St. John the Evangelist's church, Hope Street, Liverpool, for no other reason, that the writer knows of, only that he could find no one who had authority to baptize for the remission of sins, and not possessing the faith of his father, Matthews, to believe that the doctrines of the pit would become holy and gospel doctrines when taught by the tongue of wickedness and imposture, he has concluded thus publicly to acknowledge himself a servant of those very errors he has so long contended against, for the sake of filthy lucre.

"About the 12th of September Elder Goodson and Priest Snyder returned to Preston, and soon after sailed for America.

"Some years previous, the principles of the Temperance Society (originally established in America) were introduced into England, and Preston was the first town to receive them. Among the many interesting and valuable items held forth by the Temperance people, it was often remarked by them that Temperance was the forerunner of the gospel, which prophecy proved true; for when the fullness of the gospel came from America to England, it was first preached in Preston, and through the influence of the Temperance Society the Latter Day Saints procured the use of the Temperance hall in Preston (a commodious building, originally erected for cock fighting) for their chapel, and commenced meeting therein on the third of September, 1837, and continued until they were ejected through the influence of others, the Temperance Society not having it entirely at their control. Similar favors have been received from several other Temperance Societies in England, for which the Lord reward them.

"Elder Richards continued to labor against much opposition in Bedford and the region round about, until the seventh

(page 492)

of March, 1838, when he returned to Preston, leaving about forty members in charge of Elder James Lavender. Elder Russell continued to labor at Alston, Brampton, etc., and returned to Preston near the same time, leaving about sixty members in the care of Elder Jacob Peart.

"At Christmas, 1837, Priest Joseph Fielding was ordained elder, and several were ordained teachers, etc., at Preston; and in March, 1838, the church had extended from Preston to Penwortham, Longton, Southport, Eccleston, Whittle, Hunter's Hill. Chorley, and the intermediate region, through the labors of Elders Hyde, Kimball, and Fielding, and the members amounted to several hundreds in the regions of Preston and Clitheroe. During this month Elders Kimball and Hyde were diligently engaged in organizing the different branches; and on the first of April a General Conference was called at Preston, when the organization of the churches was completed, and many were ordained, among whom were Elders Joseph Fielding, Willard Richards, and William Clayton, to the high priesthood, and set apart by Elders Kimball and Hyde to preside over all the churches in England.

"On the 9th, Elders Kimball, Hyde, and Russell took leave of the saints in Preston and went to Liverpool, where they were visited by Elders Fielding, Richards, Clayton, and others; and on the 20th of April sailed for New York, on board the Garrick, the same ship they came out unto England.

"When Elders Fielding and Richards had returned to Longton they found a pamphlet, purporting to be written by the Rev. Richard Livesey, a Methodist minister, who had spent some time on a mission to the United States, as he says, and having nothing more important to attend to during his mission, it appears that he spent his time in gathering up a heap of lies and filth from the American papers, and imported them to England on his return; and finding that the work of God had commenced in his native land, and was likely to destroy his craft, set himself at work to condense his heterogeneous mass of transatlantic lies, and form the wonderful production of the Rev. Richard Livesey's tract

(page 493)

against the Latter Day Saints; it being the first thing of the kind that the enemy of all righteousness had found means to export from America and circulate in England; but since which he has found servants in abundance to assist in this nefarious merchandise of his heart's delight.

"The church at this time was in its infancy and needed much instruction, which necessarily occupied the attention of the presiding elders to a great extent; and as there were few laborers in the field, the spread of the work was not very rapid for some time.

"Sister Alice Hodgin died at Preston on the second of September, 1838, and it was such a wonderful thing for a Latter Day Saint to die in England that Elder Richards was arraigned before the Mayor's Court at Preston, on the third of October, charged with 'killing and slaying' the said Alice with a 'black stick,' etc., but was discharged without being permitted to make his defense, as soon as it was discovered that the iniquity of his accusers was about to be made manifest.

"October 19, 1838, Elder Clayton gave himself wholly to the work and soon after commenced preaching and baptizing in Manchester; and from thence the work spread into Stockport and other places in the neighborhood, through the labors of Elders Clayton, Fielding, John Moon, and David Wilding. A small church had previously sprung up in Bolton, through the labors of Elder D. Wilding, and was continued by Elder Amos Fielding.

"In the summer of 1839 Elders Clayton, Richards, and J. Moon labored in Burslem, with some success, and a small church was planted in Burnley by Elder Thomas Richardson, besides many who were added in the older branches, through the instrumentality of the local elders and priests, who were generally very faithful.

"December 8, 1839, Elders Hiram Clark, Alexander Wright, and Samuel Mulliner arrived in Preston from America; and on the 25th Brothers Wright and Mulliner started for Scotland, and soon commenced preaching and baptizing in Paisley and vicinity.

"January 13, 1840, Elders Wilford Woodruff, John Taylor,

(page 494)

and Theodore Turley arrived in Preston, from America; and on the 18th Brothers Woodruff and Turley started for the Potteries in Staffordshire, passing through Manchester; and on the 22d, Elder Taylor left for Liverpool.

"April 6, 1840, just ten years from the organization of the church, Elders Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, George A. Smith, and Reuben Hedlock, landed in Liverpool from New York; and on the 9th Elder Kimball arrived in Preston, just two years from the day he left for America.

"The arrival of the elders caused the saints to rejoice exceedingly, for it had been prophesied by many (not of the church) that they would never come, and that Elders Kimball and Hyde would never return; but they are both now in England, Elder Orson Hyde having arrived in Liverpool on the third instant from New York.

"HEBER C. KIMBALL.

"ORSON HYDE.

"WILLARD RICHARDS.

"PRESTON, March 24, 1841."

-Millennial Star, vol. 18, pp. 434-438.

When they arrived they were almost penniless, but full of faith and hope.

There were now seven of the Quorum of Twelve in Great Britain, and this being a majority, they were prepared as a quorum to transact business for the first time in a foreign land.

The Millennial Star was published soon afterward, at Manchester, and the work began to take a new impetus.

On April 14, 1840, there was a council of the Twelve held at Preston, England; present, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, and John Taylor. At this meeting they ordained Elder Willard Richards to the apostleship. There were now eight of the quorum in England, leaving only three; viz., William Smith, Orson Hyde, and John E Page in America, as the vacancy occasioned by the death of David W. Patten had not been filled. Two of them; viz, Orson Hyde and John E. Page, were preparing for their mission to the Holy Land.

(page 495)

At this council, on April 14, 1840, Brigham Young was unanimously chosen the standing president of the quorum.

A General Conference convened on April 15, 1840, and of that conference and the churches reported there the Millennial Star states:-

"At a General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints held in the Temperance hall, Preston, Lancashire, England, on the 15th of April, 1840, the following churches were represented:-

Places.

Members.

Elders.

Priests.

Teachers.

Deacons.

Preston

300

7

8

6

2

Penworthen

73

3

1

2

1

Longton

51

2

4

2

0

Southport

20

0

1

1

0

Daubers Lane, etc.

54

1

2

3

0

Hunters Hill, etc.

17

1

1

1

0

Heskin

3

1

0

0

0

Bolton

60

1

2

2

0

Ratcliffe

10

0

0

0

0

Whittle

18

1

4

0

0

Ribchester

25

2

0

1

0

Burnley

24

0

1

1

0

Blackburn

15

0

1

0

0

Keighley, etc.

29

2

1

1

0

Waddington

50

0

2

2

1

Clitheroe

27

1

3

0

0

Chatburn

84

1

2

2

1

Dunham

20

0

0

1

1

Grindleton

5

0

0

0

0

Manchester

240

2

5

4

0

Stockport

40

0

1

2

1

Duttonfield

30

0

1

0

0

Altrincham

8

0

1

1

0

Perver and Macclesfield

30

0

3

0

0

Middlewitch

6

0

0

0

0

Bury and Elton

12

0

0

0

0

Potteries

101

1

2

4

1

Herefordshirel

160

1

2

0

0

Liverpool

28

0

0

0

0

Alston

40

2

2

2

0

Brampton

30

1

1

0

0

Bedford

40

1

1

0

0

Scotland

21

3

0

0

0

"Since the conference and up to the present time many

(page 496)

are being added by baptism in almost every place where the fullness of the gospel is preached. In Scotland the work of the Lord is going on and souls are coming into the church. In Herefordshire and the adjoining country some forty preachers of other orders have lately submitted to the ordinances and united themselves to the Church of the Latter Day Saints, by which means upwards of forty preaching places have been opened for our elders. May God Almighty bless the people of that region abundantly, because with all readiness they received the word and were willing to be taught in the way of the Lord more perfectly. In Manchester our meetings are well attended; people seem desirous to hear, and some are baptized and added to the church every week. We very much need a larger place to meet; indeed, the largest place in the town would be too small if the public could have general notice. Numbers are being baptized and added to the church in the towns and country around.

"In short, on all sides we turn our eyes we behold the field all white ready to harvest. Calls for preaching are more than we can fill at present. May the Lord send more laborers into his harvest. There are thousands of people in England, if they once knew our principles would embrace them, and even lay down their lives for them if required."-Millennial Star, vol. 1, pp. 20, 21.

Another conference was held on July 6,1840, at Manchester, at which time reports showed an increase over the number of members in April of about six hundred and fifty.

Again, there was a conference held at Manchester, October 6,1840, which showed an increase in the three months of over one thousand three hundred. This ratio of increase will give the reader a fair idea of the prosperity of the work in the British Isles, without going into details.

On August 6 a company of saints sailed from Liverpool for America, in charge of Elder Theodore Turley.

During the remainder of the year the work in Europe spread with unabating interest.

Apostles Hyde and Page were yet laboring in the United States

(page 497)

but working their way eastward. The following letter from them is of interest:-

"COLUMBUS, Indiana, May 1,1840.

"President Smith: Sir:-The mission upon which we are sent swells greater and greater. As there is a great work to be done in Germany, as manifested to us by the Spirit, the following plan has been suggested to us; viz., to write a set of lectures upon the faith and doctrine of our church, giving a brief history of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and an account of its contents in as clear and plain a style as possible; together with the outlines and organization and government of the Church of Latter Day Saints, drawn from the Doctrine and Covenants with all the wisdom and care possible; and get the same translated into German, and publish it when we arrive in Germany, and scatter it through the German Empire. Is this correct? Should we consider it necessary to translate the entire Book of Mormon into German, and Doctrine and Covenants too, are we or are we not at liberty to do so? Should we deem it necessary to publish an edition of hymn books in any country, are we at liberty to do it? The fact is, we need such works, and we cannot get them from the church here; and if we could, we could not well carry them with us, at least any quantity.

"We feel that we are acting under the direction of the Presidency of the church; and the reason that we make these inquiries is, that we do not wish to step beyond our limits, or bring ourselves into a snare and dishonor by taking liberties that are not ours. We feel that all our exertions and interests shall become subservient to build up the kingdom of God. We wish to be coworkers with you and with the Spirit of the Lord. We did not converse so much upon these literary works as we should have done before we left. The fact was, we did not begin to see the greatness of our mission before we left home; our minds were in a nutshell.

"It seems to us that we should spread this work among all people, languages, and tongues, so far as possible; and

(page 498)

gather up all jewels among the Jews besides. Who is sufficient for these things?

"As agents for the church abroad, and as coworkers with yourself, in spreading this kingdom to the remotest corners of the earth, are we at liberty to translate and publish any works that we may think necessary, or that the circumstances in which we are placed seem to require, whether original or works published by the church? If we are not at liberty to take this wide range, please tell us how far we may go.

"We are setting this great work before the people as an inducement to them to help us. If we are setting our standard too high, a word from you will bring it down. We have held a two-days' meeting in this place; but in consequence of continual rains, which swelled the creeks so high, the people could not get to us. The meeting was four miles from Columbus; one only baptized.

"We have now an opportunity to ride as far east as Indiana, beyond the metropolis, and have the privilege to stop and preach by the way. Will you write to us at Cincinnati, and much oblige,

"Your brethren in the kingdom of God,

"ORSON HYDE

"JOHN E. PAGE."

-Millennial Star, vol. 17, pp. 744, 745.

Sometime previous to this date a young man by the name of William Barrett was ordained an elder in England and sent to South Australia. On July 15, 1840, he wrote as follows from Deptford, England:-

"Dear Brother in Christ:-I write to inform you of my arrival in the metropolis this morning, after a tedious journey in the midst of much profaneness and swearing, such as I never heard in my life before. I feel, as the apostle expresses it, like a lamb among wolves, going into a land of strangers to preach the gospel; therefore I desire your prayers in my behalf. I have witnessed much of the Spirit of revelation since Sunday; in fact I only thought it a mere thought when the elders testified that they were called by revelation; but now I know the truth of the assertion which

(page 499)

proves to me who ought to preach, and that none ought without they are called by revelation.

"Give my love to all the saints, and tell them that as many as remain faithful I will meet them at Zion, bringing my sheaves with me. Tell them my faith is fixed, and my resolution is strong to meet you all there, whom I love in the Lord. Pray that a door may be opened, and a gift of utterance may be given unto me in a foreign land to preach the gospel. Brethren, sorrow not for me, as those that have no hope, for we have a hope of living and eating together in the kingdom of our God."-Millennial Star, vol. 18, p. 84.